ArmInfo. In Armenia, economic activity in January-April 2021 increased by 2.6% per annum (against a 1.7% decline a year earlier), against the backdrop of an increase in  exports and imports by 16.7% and 2.2%, respectively. According to the  preliminary data of the Statistical Committee of the Republic of  Armenia, in the sectoral breakdown, growth was demonstrated by all  sectors, except for the service sector, and data on the agricultural  sector are published in the statistical report only on a quarterly  basis.

ArmInfo.According to expert assessments, the amount of carbon dioxide emissions in atmosphere decreased by 2.4 billion tons in 2020 - about 7%, compared to 2019. This indicator is historical minimum throughout the entire period of observations. The results of the study were published in the well-known scientific journal Earth System Science Data.

ArmInfo.Mr. Francis Malige, Managing Director, Financial Institutions for the EBRD, speaks on how challenging the 2020 was for EBRD, the global economy recovery after the crisis, likelihood of new projects and opportunities, current state of the banking system in Armenia and fruitful cooperation with Ameriabank.

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ArmInfo.In the banking system of Armenia, the accelerated growth of non-performing loans (NPL) in 2020 continued in Q1 2021. In such a situation, the "indulgences"  undertaken by the regulator to shift part of the burden of bad loans  from 2020 to 2021 are likely to weigh down the already toxic loan  portfolio, as a result of which profits will linger in the downturn.

ArmInfo.The 20th International Specialized Exhibition has opened in Yerevan. The exhibition, which will last for three days, is organized by the LOGOS EXPO Center together with the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen  of Armenia.

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ArmInfo.Russian leader Vladimir Putin on May 21 at a meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC) called for a prompt response to changes in prices for important goods.

ArmInfo.Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed creating a bank of climate data and digital initiatives, including those related to carbon footprint accounting,  within the framework of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU). He put  forward such an initiative on May 21 at a meeting of the Supreme  Eurasian Economic Council (SEEC).

ArmInfo. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko believes that it is necessary to avoid payments  in US dollars when trading  hydrocarbons in the Eurasian Economic  Union (EAEU). As reported by Kommersant, he also called for  accelerating the formation of common energy markets by the EAEU  countries. He announced these initiatives during a speech at a  meeting of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

ArmInfo.Armenia attaches great importance to the formation of a single gas market for the Union, Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated on May 21 at a meeting  of the Supreme Eurasian Economic Council.

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ArmInfo.On May 19, 2021, at the Best Western Congress Hotel, Armswissbank – the Implementing Partner of the Programme - organized a seminar-discussion to present the work done in the second phase of the “Scaling up green finance practices in the Republic of Armenia” programme funded by the Green Climate Fund. The studies referred to the best international practices in the field of "Green" financing and the opportunities for its introduction in the Republic of Armenia.

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ArmInfo.SHASTA, the large Iranian holding, the investment arm of the Social Security Investment Company (SSIC), is considering investing in a number of areas in  Armenia. This became known after the meeting of the Minister of  Economy of Armenia Vahan Kerobyan with the delegation of the Iranian  holding, headed by Director General Mohammad Rezvanifar.

ArmInfo.Private equity fund Amber Capital Armenia,  supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development  (EBRD) and the European Union (EU), has acquired Solis, an Armenian  solar plant operator, to build and operate a 4 MW photovoltaic (PV)  solar power plant in Aragatsotn, western Armenia. The parties to the  transaction did not disclose the amount of the transaction and the  volume of investments in the project. Nevertheless, according to  experts, the total volume of investments may amount to about 2 - 2.5  million US dollars.

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ArmInfo.In a month, the petrochemical plant in the Nati district of the city of Yeghvard, Kotayk region, will start producing machine oil and bitumen. "The  construction of the plant was completed two years ago, but due to a  number of artificially created problems, we could not start  production in any way," General Director of "Armoil" CJSC Alfred  Abedi said in an interview with ArmInfo.

ArmInfo.In Q1 2021, the inflow of transfers to Armenia increased in February-March, when labor migrants managed to go abroad to work. Executive Director of the  Union of Banks of Armenia (UBA) Seyran Sargsyan stated this on May 19  during a press conference, stating that in Q1 2021, the inflow of  transfers from individuals to Armenia increased by 14.7% per annum or  $ 52 million, amounting to $ 406 million.